I’m so sorry, I’m just a Mom. I don’t understand at all.
Did we miss the 25th cycle? What is the 25th cycle and should we now panic and run in circles to make heat? Should I buy more rice?
I want to know also. thanks
You're a mom and you still don't know what a missed cycle means?!?
In reality....
The sun's output is not constant, but rather varies with a period of 11 years. It has to do with periodic changes in the sun's magnetic field; every 11 years the sun's magnetic poles flip, and during those times the sun is very active -- it's when the big solar storms occur. Sunspots are far more common when the sun is active. There have been 25 such 11-year cycles since folks started really paying attention to sunspots.
Historically, long periods with very few sunspots have affected weather on Earth. The so-called "Maunder Minimum" from 1645-1715 was coincident with the "little ice age."
Other low-sunspot periods have also had lower temps. Probably not coincidentally, the sun has had a large number of sunspots, and temperatures are said to be higher over that period.
The current low-sunspot activity has gone on for several years now -- the start of the next solar cycle is almost 2 years late. It could be that we're in a minimum period, and can expect colder temps.
Actually, rice is recyclable — Chinese proverb.